Watch structure



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June 3 1924.

tomeq Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK G. GRUEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE GRUEN WATCH CO'MPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

WATCH STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,823.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. GRUEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a IVatch Structure, of which the following is a specification.J

An object of my invention is to provide a watch structure wherein it is possible to effect a wafer watch that is a thin, practical watch, easy to manufacture, and wherein the strength of the various elements is not modified because of such change in structure and relation of parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. simple and eiiicient device of the class referred to.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simpler watch structure, less costly to make.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a watch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. l

The base plate 3 has mounted upon it various bridges 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the bridges and base plate providing bearings for the shafts of the gear train mechanism of the watch. It should be noted that the gearing mechanism is so mounted that a balance wheel 10 and a gear wheel 11 mounted on the central shaft 12, do not overlap and are located at the same level or in the same plane. at 13 for the reception of the balance wheel and escapement mechanism. The spring shaft 14 is rotatably actuated from the idler gear 15 by means of the gear 16 mounted upon the shaft 14. A suitable ratchet Iii-eph- The base plate 3 is recessed as shown anism 17 operative upon the gear 16, precludes unwinding of the spring. The shaft 14 carries the gear 18 that is rotatably actuated by the main spring, and the gear 18 drives the pinion 19 mounted on the central shaft 12 and carrying the gear 11. The gear 11 engages a pinion carried by the shaft 20, which shaft 2O also carries a gear 21 engaging a pinion carried by shaft 22. The shaft 22 also carries a gear 23 operative upon a. pinion carried by the shaft 24 upon which the escapement wheel 25 is mounted. The escapement wheel 25 operates through a complementary escapement element 26 upon the balance wheel and the spring 27 associated therewith.

The watches made according to my disclosure herein may be made very much thinner than has been possible heretofore, thereby making it possible to reduce the weight and size of the watch without in any way affecting the serviceability or sturdiness of the watch parts. This structure is also very desirable because it provides sufficient room for balance wheelto preclude interference of the balance wheel and center wheel should dirt enter between same. This type of watch is also very much easier to manufacture than are the types heretofore produced.

That I claim is:

1. In awatch structure the combination with a center wheel of a balance wheel lying in the same plane with and actuated from the center wheel.

2. In a watch structure the combination with a center wheel of a balance wheel actuated `thereby and operating in the plane of rotation of the center wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24 day of April,

FREDERICK G. GRUEN. 

